Fluid transfer device and associated system

Abstract

A fluid transfer device that aspirates and dispenses fluid without a user needing to directly actuate the fluid transfer device by being actuated for aspiration when inserted into a device such as a vial or for dispensing when inserted into a receiving device such as a cassette. In embodiments, the cassette is designed as part of a system with the fluid transfer device which securely attaches to the cassette when dispensing a fluid sample.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A fluid transfer device comprising:
 an actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism comprising:
 a first actuator member connected to a lower portion of a housing at a first actuator hinge; 
 a second actuator member connected to the lower portion of the housing at a second actuator hinge, the first actuator hinge being located at an opposing end of the housing from the second actuator hinge; 
   a squeeze bulb located within the housing; and   a pipette tube coupled to the squeeze bulb;
 wherein the first actuator member and the second actuator member are configured to compress the squeeze bulb by pivoting into the housing at the first actuator hinge and the second actuator hinge. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1  wherein the first actuator hinge and the second actuator hinge are located at the bottom of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing, the first actuator member, the first actuator hinge, the second actuator member and the second actuator hinge are comprised of a single piece of material. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 3  wherein the single piece of material is injected molded plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the squeeze bulb is constructed of polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the squeeze bulb and the pipette tube are formed in a unibody configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the squeeze bulb is elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the pipette tube is coupled to the squeeze bulb through an overflow channel; and the overflow channel is coupled to the squeeze bulb at a location above an excess liquid reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cap covering a portion of the housing, wherein the cap has a bottom width at least equal to the greatest width of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 9 , wherein the squeeze bulb is coupled to an upper squeeze bulb located under the cap. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the squeeze bulb, upper squeeze bulb and pipette tube are formed in a unibody configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 9 , wherein the cap is constructed of a rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 9 , further comprising a sealing rib located on the pipette tube. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first actuator member has a first inner wall facing the housing and a first outer wall facing away from the housing;   the second actuator member has a second inner wall facing the housing and a second outer wall facing away from the housing; and   the first inner wall and second inner wall each comprise a convex curve.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first outer wall and the second outer wall each comprise a concave curve, and the concave curve of the first outer wall and the concave curve of the second outer wall each terminate at a vertex forming a first nub on the first outer wall and a second nub on the second outer wall, the first nub and the second nub configured to function as a latch when the fluid transfer device is used in combination with a cassette.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the convex curve of the first inner wall ends at a first notch on the first inner wall at a point approximately coplanar with the first nub; and   the convex curve of the second inner wall ends at a second notch on the second inner wall at a point approximately coplanar with the second nub.   
     
     
         17 . A fluid transfer device comprising:
 an actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism comprising: a housing,   a first actuator member connected to the bottom of the housing at a first actuator hinge, the first actuator member having a first inner wall facing the housing and a first outer wall facing away from the housing, the first inner wall comprising a convex curve;   a second actuator member connected to the bottom of the housing at a second actuator hinge, the second actuator member having a second inner wall facing the housing and a second outer wall facing away from the housing, the second inner wall comprising a convex curve;   the first outer wall and the second outer wall each comprise a concave curve, and the concave curve of the first outer wall and the concave curve of the second outer wall each terminate at a vertex forming a first nub on the first outer wall and a second nub on the second outer wall, the first nub and the second nub configured to function as a latch when the fluid transfer device is used in combination with a cassette;   a squeeze bulb of an elliptical shape located within the housing;   a pipette tube coupled to the squeeze bulb through an overflow channel, the overflow channel coupled to the squeeze bulb at a location above an excess liquid reservoir;   a sealing rib located on the pipette tube; and   a cap covering a portion of the housing, wherein the cap has a bottom width at least equal to the greatest width of the housing;   wherein the first actuator member and the second actuator member are configured to compress the squeeze bulb by pivoting into the housing at the first actuator hinge and the second actuator hinge.   
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 the fluid transfer device of  claim 1 ;   a cassette configured to receive a sample from the fluid transfer device, the cassette comprising:
 a cassette body with an outer wall; and 
 an opening along the outer wall, 
   wherein portions of the outer wall closest to the opening have a thickness about equal to the distance between the bottom of the cap of the fluid transfer device and the first and second nubs of the fluid transfer device, the opening configured to receive a portion of the housing below the bottom of the cap and lock the fluid transfer device therein.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the portions of the outer wall closest to the opening are angled inwards toward the interior of the cassette.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the cassette is further configured with a first sealing wall and a second sealing wall configured to receive the pipette tube and spaced apart a distance less than the outer diameter of the sealing rib. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first sealing wall and second sealing wall comprise a portion of the perimeter of a sealing tube with a diameter less than the outer diameter of the sealing rib.